Birds and yard critters

[Hedgelj]

Never seen them swarm on the ground before.View attachment 198931

Not common but not uncommon either.

A swarm this late in the year is sad though. Odds are it's dead before gun season. Most likely it's from a hive overrun with varroa mites and they are absconding. Second highest option is that the queen has less than ideal genetics leading to them swarming this late in the season.

 

[GoetzTalon]

Thanks for the info! I knew a little about bees now I know more. No man made hives in the area so had to be a wild hive from the woods. I was surprised they were honey bees.

 

[GoetzTalon]

I thought humming birds were demanding. These finches take it to a different level lol. That tube gets filled once a day.

 

[GoetzTalon]

Was out at westwinds shooting my crossbow yesterday when the wife says look up. Big kettle of broad wing hawks.

 

[Jamie]

This is a Milkweed plant growing out of my chip sealed driveway (and in the bed above it), two coats of tar and rock. I have tried to kill this plant with glyphosate for two year, have pulled it up in the spring three times. This year I gave up and did not try to kill it. Mother Nature wins, as it should be. Now it is smorgasbord for the bugs that we invited the Milkweed for in the first place. Dozens and dozens of Monarch butterfly caterpillars on the Milkweed in this patch this year. They are demolishing the leaves on these plants, too.

 

[giles]

We learned this year the crazy benefits of milkweed! Oddly enough it was our trip to The Wilds that started that path.

 

[Jamie]

We learned this year the crazy benefits of milkweed! Oddly enough it was our trip to The Wilds that started that path.

It is very good to eat, too. Just ask the caterpillars.

 

[Stressless]

Hadn't brushhogged this plot since 15 May. When brushhogging it last week, saw big patches of milkweed growing in the center, cut around them to leave it mature and feed the butterflies hopefully.

 

[GoetzTalon]

With the decline of monarchs that is really awesome to see!

 

[Stressless]

Checking out the new construction for a late dinner.

 

[Big H]

It is very good to eat, too. Just ask the caterpillars.

I have a bunch of milkweed around the yard. I wait until the pods go to seed and save the seeds. They are awesome for checking thermals from your treestand.

 

[finelyshedded]

It’s been a minute since I’ve seen one of these good insect eaters.